Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got enough free lexan to build a 36"Hx36"Tx20"D viv. I couldn't believe it, 1/4" thick and not a single scratch or scuff, looks like brand new glass! I am wondering if any of you live in a house with no AC that can get about 80-85F. Would the water and mister help keep it cooler or is that just too hot. If it is are mantella frogs better than darts if the temp is a bit high?
Thanks,
Nick

I don't have AC here in Idaho because ordinarily both the location and high altitude keep the temps under 80. However in the past three or four years, we've had record heat (for us.) I haven't found a sure-fire way to keep the temperatures down below 80 on hot days. Misting, ice in the humidifier, ice on wet terry towels over the opened, but still screened tops, with fans blowing across, help a bit. A swamp cooler investment for the hottest room helps very little. Heat is the biggest summer problem for me. I turn off all vivarium lights on hot days. I even put ice around the pumps in any pools that circulate over falls. It becomes rather a full-time endeavor.

Most darts are more tolerant of heat than Mantellas, from what I've read, but I've had no first hand experience with Mantellas. The darts I have found most susceptible to over-heating are the D. terribilis.

I too, would love to find a final solution other than installing a central AC system, since my windows aren't adapted at all to any kind of window installation.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

D. auratus blue
D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
D. imitator
D. leucomelas
D. pumilio Bastimentos
D. fantasticus
P. terribilis mint and organe
D. reticulatus
D. castaneoticus
D. azureus
P vittatus
P. lugubris

That is the stuation I am in! I can't put in AC because of windows/breakers. I was also thinking of the ice in the situation. Since I live in a redwood forest canyon I am about 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the area. I really do not want to try and test it so I will probably end up putting in colorful tree frogs. I have seen that they handle it pretty good. Thanks Patty!
Now off to cutting my plexi! I still can't believe my luck, this guy spent 400 bucks on this stuff and just decided he wanted glass instead and gave it to me for free! Now its my turn to pay it forward
Nick

Hey, wait a minute re: your choice of frogs. A redwood canyon would be ideal,--mostly pretty cool, generally high ambient humidity, with a few odd hot days, not above 85 in summer? Don't worry. With most darts, you could just turn off the vivarium lights on those extra hot days. Keep your house a bit cooler by opening all the windows at night, then closing them up during the early morning. I was speaking from the "high desert getting too hot" situation. If the redwoods aren't crashing around you due to global warming yet, go for dart frogs.

I wish I knew where everyone was coming from before spouting off "advice" based on my own situation.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

D. auratus blue
D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
D. imitator
D. leucomelas
D. pumilio Bastimentos
D. fantasticus
P. terribilis mint and organe
D. reticulatus
D. castaneoticus
D. azureus
P vittatus
P. lugubris

try raising them up by using some kind of blocks. That way you can still see the frogs and all, but not have the heat. Just watch out for overheating the blocks and causing a fire hazard.
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phflame
kingsnake.com host

Sometimes it might get higher like 90 max. I usually shut off the stove and even the heater pilot.I also plan on having the viv set up downstairs which is always cooler than up stairs since hot air rises. Thank you for the help, I am looking forward to keeping darts. Probably won't get any untill fall after the viv has been up and running for a while.
Nick

You will probably also want to keep the new frogs in a small "quarantine" or "nursery" for a month or so before putting them in the vivarium. I use a Kritter-Keeper and seal the vents, except for the center feeding lid, with clear shipping tape. Just pur a layer of brown sphagnum on the bottom and throw in a couple of plant cuttings. I also keep one of the shipping cups on its side in there with a bit of extra water in it. This will give you a chance to observe each one, see that everyone is eating and remains healthy. Patrick Nabors advises separate containers for each new frog, but I don't do this unless there is some question of possible parasites and fecals need to be collected from a damp paper towel substrate.

The basement will be ideal. If raising the lights should still heat up the tank too much, you can always just blow a small fan between the lights and top of the tank.

I have spent some time in what is probably your general area, between Eureka and Garberville with a friend who lived down in the redwoods (in the 70's). At that time at least, there were some fantastic mushrooms growing in the woods. It might be fun to collect some mature caps and make spore-prints, blow the spores into your tank to see if any of them ever take hold and eventually fruit. If you use a little of the forest duff in your tank, you might also get some other fun surprises, and maybe even some "free food" for the frogs in the way of little isopods, fungus gnats, springtails, &etc. About the only possible problem you might have with this would be introducing slug or snail eggs, but these will be large enough that you can just remove them if they show up.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

D. auratus blue
D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
D. imitator
D. leucomelas
D. pumilio Bastimentos
D. fantasticus
P. terribilis mint and organe
D. reticulatus
D. castaneoticus
D. azureus
P vittatus
P. lugubris

Thank you for all of the great tips! I have been collecting many plants because I am the plant buyer for a nursery here in cupertino. (I live in Saratoga, up in the santa cruz mountains)
It has been fun looking for these plants with my vendors (getting some free is great also!). I will post pics when it is done.
Nick